House Republican freshmen emerged from a closed meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner with much of the same frustration they had after the White House meeting yesterday, saying they do not expect a plan from the White House on massive spending cuts to accompany the debt hike.

The hang-up from Republican newbies mirrored the concern from leadership — that President Barack Obama has not put forth a plan to raise the debt ceiling.

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POLITICO 44

Rep. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican who is a member of the GOP leadership, said, “We need the specificity and the details from the other side for us to have a serious conversation about any increase in the debt ceiling.”

Others were disappointed that Geithner largely held to the administration’s line, rather than looking for common ground with the members.

“I don’t think it we really made any progress. What is obvious to me is that we’re really far apart on where we need to go and what we need to do. And it did seem like he was there more to plead the president’s case than to listen to us,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger. “He talked about letting the [Bush] tax cuts expires and raising taxes and that for us is a non starter.

Several sources present at the meeting with Geithner said he called for tax hikes to equal $1 trillion and $2 trillion in spending cuts, including changes to the Medicare reimbusement rate to doctors. Geithner also told the freshmen that the nation would save $1 trillion on interest payments by spending less.

Rep. David Schweikert, an Arizona freshman, echoed the concerns some of his colleagues had yesterday about the political rhetoric they felt the secretary used.

“I’m fine with Geithner, I accept he’s a smart guy,” Schweikert said. “What’s tough is on occasion you can see him having an honest conversation about financial monetary policy and in the next paragraph stepping into a role as political official, sometimes weaving between facts and rhetoric. That seems to just be the nature of Washington.”

Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) is putting that concern on paper. Black said she plans to send Obama a letter to ask for a “specific plan” that can be scored by the Congressional Budget Office, in addition to a plan from the administration on what they will do if the statutory debt cap is reached.

Geithner, who has been meeting with Congressional lawmakers as the debt debate rages on, said the government will “avoid a default crisis” and will “reach agreement on our long-term fiscal plan.” He also admitted that, as Treasury secretary, he was required to borrow far more money than he’d like to—a comment that helped placate some of the conservative members.

Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), the class president, said “everything that we got in there from him is a step in the right direction that we’re having an open and honest dialogue in how we move forward.”

Still, many members in the class were not so optimistic. “Just spent 30min w/ Geithner and I’m disgusted and discouraged. We can’t roll over & settle the way he wants us 2,” Tea Party freshman Joe Walsh tweeted just after the meeting.

“It’s good that he reached out,” Kinzinger said. “But I’m not sure how far we really got.”

These 'newbies' , as the author likes to call them, have a helluva lot more common sense and wisdom than the Obama Administration and the media.

They know that raising the debt limit will just trigger another Democrat spending spree that will end only with the next debt limit being hit, and we'll hear the same old scare tactics to raise the debt limit again.

This administration is clearly out of control.

Hang tough, 'newbies'. The 'veterans' have bankrupted the nation and are robbing our children of their futures.

Timmy and Obozo, both graduates of the Obozo Hussein Obozo Clown College of Failed Economics and High Finance have just about destroyed this great economy of ours. And independents actually believed that a DEMOLIB like Obozo knows what a budget is???? Tragic.

If honesty about what is necessary to solve the debt crisis is a "non-starter" ... then who's REALLY being serious about the issue? Republicans have to understand that tax hikes HAVE to be on the table. You can't cut taxes to raise revenue. It just doesn't work that way. Republicans keep wanting it to work. They want it SO BAD .... the problem is that it just DOESN'T. They're wrong. They won't (or CAN'T) admit it. It's the REPUBLICANS who are the major players in fiscal IRresponsibility. Dems aren't great, but they don't hold a candle to the republicans when it comes to fiscal IRresponsibility.

No deal that will EVER be reached will placate the baggers as a whole or, for that matter many liberals. Like every agreement in Washington, it will be in the middle. Whether that's a good or bad deal depends on who one asks. But the truth of that statement has NO rival in a split congress in American history. PERIOD!!

Timmy and Obozo, both graduates of the Obozo Hussein Obozo Clown College of Failed Economics and High Finance have just about destroyed this great economy of ours. And independents actually believed that a DEMOLIB like Obozo knows what a budget is???? Tragic.

Actually, high finance in America was destroyed by BUSH. Markets were on serious decline before Obama even took office (due to republican policies and ideology). You act as if the dems are evil, when it's the republicans who have been trying to undermine us and "take over" since the Bush years.

And instead, they cut off their nose to spite their face! lol The ONLY thing "new" about teabaggers is the name, being too ashamed of Bush to call themselves republicans. The same right-wing, American Taliban lovin' freak show that has long infected the republican party and most independents and many republicans, thanks to the Ryan Plan, have finally realized are simply "tools" of the mega rich and the idiot American Taliban.

Obama has given them just enough rope. Let's see how close the GOP goes in actually using it. The GOP has been punked the old-fashioned way and the people in the know saw it coming (ie. Haley Barbour). Mr. President please do not hold us accountable for backing the Ryan budget. We are now figuring out it will kill us in the next election. The political payback for your lack of foresight will be steep and will due next year.

To BOB HAZE.... That's easy....The President is trying to fix the country...the repubs are for themselves and do not give a damm about working and middle earners. They are joined at the hip with the wealthy and corporations. End of story!

And instead, they cut off their nose to spite their face! lol The ONLY thing "new" about teabaggers is the name, being too ashamed of Bush to call themselves republicans. The same right-wing, American Taliban lovin' freak show that has long infected the republican party and most independents and many republicans, thanks to the Ryan Plan, have finally realized are simply "tools" of the mega rich and the idiot American Taliban.

Another dillusional lib with absolutely no clue on any subject.

You think you'll join the ranks of the "chosen", if your socialist agenda succeeds one day (God forbid)?

You are too insignificant and stupid to even understand the word "broke".

Look the loud Tea Party congressmen are all buckling. LOL...they wont even make a yr. OBAMA has them right out on center stage spewing their non sense.....wait 2 wks and they all cave. He's very smart. Obama is like the puppet master. As ole Abe would say....they TP is removing all doubt.